Hungary

Question 1

What is the climate of Tokaj?

Answer 1

Moderate

Question 2

What aspect do the best vineyards in Tokaj have?

Answer 2

South facing slopes

Question 3

Why are the Bodrog & Tisza rivers are important for sweet Tokaji production?

Answer 3

They provide humid mornings for the production of botrytis.

Question 4

Which Hungarian grape is the principal grape in Aszú and makes wines that are high acid with flavours of apple when young, developing into nuts & honey?

Answer 4

Furmint

Question 5

Why is Furmint suitable for Aszú wines?

Answer 5

It is a late ripening variety that is susceptible to botrytis.

Question 6

Which Hungarian grape variety is a late ripener and is used to add perfume to a blend?

Answer 6

Hárslevelű

Question 7

The Hungarian name for Muscat Blanc á Petits Grains that adds aromatic flavours to blends is?

Answer 7

Sárga Muskotály

Question 8

What is the traditional bottle size for Aszú wines?

Answer 8

50cl

Question 9

Tokaj grape pickers have three categories. What are they and what do they mean?

Answer 9

Aszú: Individual botrytised (rotten) grapes selected
Grapes unaffected by noble rot.
Szamorodni: “as it comes” bunches with partial noble rot.

Question 10

In Tokaji, the level of puttonyos indicates what?

Answer 10

The residual sugar in the final wine (how sweet the wine is).

Question 11

What is the maximum number of puttonyos a wine could have?

Answer 11

6 puttonys

Question 12

Wine law changes after 2013 meant the 3 & 4 puttonyos categories were renamed as?

Answer 12

Late harvest or Tokaji Szamorodni

Question 13

Tokaji Eszencia, the sweetest wine, is made from what type of juice?

Answer 13

Free run juice from Aszú (noble rot) grapes.

Question 14

The minimum oak ageing for Tokaji Aszú is?

Answer 14

18 months

Question 15

Tokaji Szamorodni wines can be dry or sweet. Which is Tokaji Szamorodni Édes?

Answer 15

Sweet

Question 16

Tokaji Szamorodni wines can be dry or sweet. Which is Tokaji Szamorodni Száraz?

Answer 16

Dry

Question 17

How must Tokaji Szamorodni be maturated before release?

Answer 17

At least 6 months in cask and released from the winery no earlier than January in the second year.

Question 18

What happens to dry Tokaji Szamorodni when the cask is not filled completely?

Answer 18

A flor like yeast (Fino Sherry) can grow over the wine, protecting it from oxygen.

Question 19

What happens to sweet Tokaji Szamorodni if the cask is not filled completely?

Answer 19

It oxidises

Question 20

The trend for sweet Tokaji Szamorodni wines is for the cask to be?

Answer 20

Filled so that it is less oxidative.

Question 21

Give the key stages of producing Tokaji Aszú

Answer 21

A base wine is made from non-botrytised grapes.
Aszú (noble rot) grapes are added.
Aszú grapes are macerated for 12-60 hours.
Wine and Aszú grapes are pressed.
Wine matured in oak.

Question 22

Describe a typical Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonys?

Answer 22

A deep amber sweet wine with high acidity and intense aromas of orange peel, apricots & honey.

Question 23

A lusciously sweet wine with less than 5% alcohol from Hungary and capable of ageing for up to a century can best be described as?

Answer 23

Tokaji Eszencia

Question 24

How are Tokaji modern sweet wines made?

Answer 24

Similar to Sauternes. Late harvest or noble rot grapes are directly fermented and matured in oak for less time than Tokaji Aszú